Me too!

They're really cool birds ... they're huge and totally prehistoric looking. We have a pair of them that set up shop here for the past few years. I don't know where their actual nest has been, but the birds themselves make a fairly regular route going from tree to tree in the front and back yards. They're really noisy ... chirping and calling. It's easy to know when they're around.

You should watch one reduce a rotten stump to a pile of sawdust. Man, those things can peck.

Connie

I would be jealous, too! But if he has seen them once he will see them again, and maybe you will be there!

I saw my first one this year, too! I was fascinated - it looked just like Woody Woodpecker! :)

My Dad has those! but sadly I just visit my folks in the evening every Friday night, so I miss out on all the beautiful birds he gets. My neighborhood gets no beautiful variety of birds that he gets, except for the occasional red-tailed hawk, but haven't seen even that since they tore up all the highways and open fielded areas to make room for the ugly surburban sprawl.

We see one of them from time to time. "Prehistoric" is a good way to describe their looks. They have a body about the size of a Canada goose, but they look all wild and rough. One lit on our back deck recently and chipped three pieces out of the railing with just a couple of whacks. They are really something to see.

Neato keen! I'm pretty sure I saw one when I was a kid, somewhere in an East Coast hardwood forest. I assumed it was a duck, but there was this red around the head. I was very excited.

I didn't realize their range went so far west, but sure enough, it includes the forested areas of Washington and Oregon. Maybe I'll get lucky someday too.

This is so embarrassing,ugh; as soon as I read big as a goose, I thought uh-oh, Serena, you've got the wrong! woodpecker in mind. what a dozo! I was thinking of the brilliant red-headed woodpecker with the black and white dappled feathers (the downy woodpecker). It is way smaller than the pileated woodpecker. Sheesh, sorry for the mixup...

It's okay Serena. HAH. Brian didn't know what they were..he said they looked like weird chickens, or something. He spent some time looking them up and then came up with the name. A quick call to the owner of the Wild Bird supply store..he told us they were quite common around here! I have never seen one. We sure are enjoying the wildlife in our backyard this year. Even Brian has given up chasing the Harbor Pidgeons off the feeders. He said someone has to love them!

Apparently this species has rebounded strongly from what were at one time fairly low levels. I came here 40 years ago, didn't see one until maybe 12 years later, now I see them every year. The sound of their chipping is distinctive, very loud and slower than other WPs. They sling that big head on a fairly long neck with great power.

well, Zyperiris, heheh I think I was definitely "wearing my brains" on backwards; I can't believe I missed out on that important descriptor-- prehistoric and wild and rough! I never thought of a bird being wild and rough except for a parrot that doesn't get enough attention from its owner, lol! So that descriptor should have caught my eye. I think I just saw the first 2 responses and jumped to the gun with mine, ridiculous me! Anyway, I am hoping one of these days we'll be able to enjoy a photo of your Pileated woodpeckers and your wood beaver! But again, it's so difficult to catch a real-live photo of wildlife and who cares about the photo compared to just the joy of seeing the real thing in person!

You must have some really tall massive trees on your property. I would imagine one would need those kinds of trees to attract those woodpeckers. Keep us updated when you! get the chance to see these amazing birds! am crossing my fingers you'll get to see one soon, soon, soon!

Serena we do have large trees. Pine trees 100 ft tall. We live by a greenbelt..there is most likely a water source back there. The neighbors said that kids used to play back there..but it is way overgrown back there. Hubby said if we walked it down to the trail way down there it would be about 1/4 mile. The trail borders the freeway. We get a little noise from the freeway but not much. We have wild Salmon runs and it is illegal to build on them. Our understanding is that this land is a permanent greenbelt. When we went looking for houses living on a green belt was a big plus. When we found this house we were so excited. When I say greenbelt..it is a thick looking forest. The lot is the sunniest one on the block. It's awesome

I have enjoyed these Pileated Woodpeckers for years. I was lucky to find a male just starting to hollow out a nest. I observed the site for 6 months and was lucky to get the following 7 minute video which I have posted on YouTube.

As Ever,
Orin Keplinger
near Chicago

Here is a link that might be useful: 2009 Pileated Woodpecker Nest

I am totally digging this viddy! Those woodpeckers are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful footage Orin. What brilliant colors they are! The cutest baby chicks! I loved watching them...

Zyperiris, how wonderful that the greenbelt is being conserved and protected. How I wish Kansas would do the same for its wildlife near the city. Instead they just keep tearing up the land indiscriminately to accomodate their surburban sprawl. It's hideous! Every day, more land is being bull-dozed and torn up and replaced by cookie cutter architecture that wastes space and land. There's no character in the architecture either just nasty suburban sprawwwl. Ugh!

Orink..thanks so much. Great video

Great video! Thanks for sharing it.